3rd Annual Holiday Railfest This Weekend

The event benefits the restoration efforts of the Southampton Railroad Station Society.

The Southampton Railroad Station Society's third annual Holiday Railfest will be held this Saturday at the North and Southampton Reformed Church. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature displays and exhibits by various railroad-related groups, including a model of the infamous 1921 Bryn Athyn train wreck. The Southampton Fire Company will also have some equipment on display at the event. Vendors selling items such as toy and model trains, locomotive-based artwork and many other fascinating gift ideas for any railroad enthusiast will also be present. Little ones who attend can have their face painted or take a ride with Santa on a replica steam train.  Tickets are $5; children under the age of 12 are free but must be …

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Southampton Railroad Station Society Receives Grant

The non-profit group will use the funds to help repair and repoint the stone foundation of the historic building.

  The National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) recently awarded $500 to the Southampton Railroad Station Society (SRRSS) to repair and re-point the stone foundation of the former Philadelphia and Reading Railroad station building.  The SRRSS was among 21 non-profit organizations from 14 states to receive awards from NRHS totaling $50,000. Recipients included NRHS chapters, historical societies, museums and municipalities. Read: Local Historical Icon: More Than the Average Fixer-Upper “This year’s applicant pool was the largest in NRHS history and one of the best in recent memory, making the award decisions painfully difficult,” said NRHS President Gregory Molloy. “While we’re excited to fund these important projects, the fact remains …

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Full Steam Ahead for Rail Station Repairs

The Southampton Railroad Station Society works on minor improvement projects at the station every Saturday.

Members of the Southampton Railroad Station Society were hard at work this past weekend, repairing the historic building’s lower roof. The SRRSS plans to be throwing down new shingles by the end of the month, to serve as a temporary patch to keep rain from doing more damage. The Society is also starting to paint the window panels and hopes to restore electric service to the building by early May. Anyone wishing to volunteer should check the SRRSS website for information on the next work session, or join the group's Facebook page.

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Railfest Benefits Southampton Station

The Southampton Railroad Station Society held it's 2nd annual Railfest Saturday at the North & Southampton Reformed Church.

The Southampton Railroad Station Society Second Annual Railfest featured operational toy train layouts, historical groups and exhibits, food and vendors, live music, face painting and  live train conductors at the North & Southampton Reformed Church Saturday. An actor portraying the infamous Phoebe Snow, the Lackawanna Railroad icon who rode the RR in the early 1900's  saying, “my gown stays white from morn to night on the road of anthracite,” was also circulating through the crowds. Anthracite was a clean burning coal; passengers riding trains powered the anthracite coal could emerge from their trip with their clothes still looking clean. Santa was also in attendance at the railfest taking Christmas requests from the children. All of the …

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Local Historical Icon: More than the Average Fixer Upper

The Southampton Railroad Station Society looks for ways to raise money to fund its restoration efforts for the local train station building.

The Southampton Railroad Station Society continues to make efforts to refurbish the local historical train station building. The Society has experienced a slow start to the work that needs to be done, however the group stabilized the building to prevent further deterioration. Board Member, Jon Frey is currently working to refurbish the platform lights. The Society is getting electrical service put back into the station, a piece of the overall project that is slated to be finished by Thanksgiving. They replaced the main door and will continue to fix the structure as funds will allow. Frey, who wants the community to know and see that work is being done, said the current main focus is raising money to aid in the restoration. “Right now we’re…

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Rail Station Society Rolls Out Three Events

The Southampton Railroad Station Society members and Board of Directors hope to get their name out to the public by attending and hosting events throughout the year.

Members of the Southampton Railroad Station Society's Board of Directors detailed several upcoming events at a general membership meeting at the Upper Southampton Township Building last week. The first event, which will take place on Sept. 10, is a showing at the Bristol Model Club event at Tamanend Park at 10 am. “It’s a big train display,” said Board Member Charlie Liberto. “It’s going to cover the whole inside of the carriage house.” Liberto said The Model Club will run all sorts of trains as people walk around the display. Next, the Society plans to mark the 90th anniversary of the Bryn Athyn train wreck. This tragedy occurred Dec. 5, 1921 when two, wooden passenger trains collided along the Reading Railroad. Twenty-seven people died…

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